Bariatric Surgery in Santiago with a Contract Guarantee

Yes, bariatric surgery is the medical term for it. At City Medical Centre the main methods are sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve) and gastric bypass; the surgeon chooses the method by your BMI and health.

Usually a BMI over 40, or over 35 with related health conditions. The surgeon confirms whether surgery suits you at the consultation.

Bariatric surgery at the clinic is performed by experienced bariatric surgeons:

• Ruslan S. Menzulin — bariatric surgeon and surgical oncologist, 9 years of experience. Trained at Mercy clinic (USA) under Vadim Gushchin, spoke at the World Congress of bariatric surgery in Santiago (2025). Co-author of an international study published in The Lancet.
• Andrey G. Ugay — lead bariatric surgeon, 27 years of experience. Has performed the largest number of SASJ operations in the country. Expert council member of the national Society of Bariatric Surgeons.

Write to us and our coordinator will respond shortly and book you in for a consultation. The consultation with the bariatric surgeon is free.

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Surgery is prescribed only when clear criteria are met

• The patient's body mass index (BMI)
• Overall health and any related chronic conditions
• Previous tries at losing weight with ordinary methods have failed

BMI is the main tool for assessing the degree of obesity. It is calculated by dividing body weight (kg) by height squared (m²). Surgery is usually justified with a BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious related conditions. In some cases surgery is considered at lower values too — if non-surgical approaches have failed.

Many mix them up, but they pursue fundamentally different goals. Bariatric surgery medically treats obesity and related diseases by changing how the digestive tract functions, addressing the causes of excess weight and metabolism. Plastic surgery reshapes the external contours of the body; it does not treat obesity or influence metabolism.

There are four main types of bariatric surgery at City Medical Centre: sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass (MGB) and SADI-S duodeno-ileal bypass. BMI, related conditions and the patient's goals guide the individual choice of method.

We apply modern laparoscopic technique, operating through 4 small punctures of 5 to 15 mm. Thanks to cosmetic sutures, the marks are almost invisible once they heal.

Recovery depends on what you do. Office work: after 2–4 weeks. Physical work: after 1.5 months. Sport and activity: swimming is allowed after 30 days, other exercise is added gradually as weight drops. Travel and holidays: best planned no earlier than a month after surgery.

Your meals progress in stages: liquid food, soft food, then solid. The stress is on protein and on reducing high-calorie, fatty food.

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery is possible, though doctors recommend waiting at least 12–18 months. In that time the body stabilizes, weight reaches its target and nutritional status returns to normal.

Yes, vitamins are essential after bariatric surgery. As digestive anatomy changes, the body absorbs certain nutrients less well, so regular vitamin and mineral supplements become a lasting part of the patient's life.

Although weight regain after bariatric surgery is possible, it is very unlikely if you follow the doctor's advice. Proper eating, avoiding high-calorie drinks and regular follow-up with City Medical Centre specialists are key.